Prosecutors Drop Objection To Doctor

WOODSTOCK — Prosecutors dropped their objections Friday to allowing an Elgin Mental Health Center doctor to evaluate Christopher Swan, 31--a Woodstock man charged in the murder and sexual assault of his stepmother on New Year's Day.

Prosecutors raised a conflict-of-interest issue because defense attorneys wanted to bring in a doctor from the center where Swan had been a patient before the alleged murder occurred. Prosecutors wanted the court to know about the doctor's link but now feel the doctor will be professional.

Swan was charged in January with the attempted sexual assault and murder of Cynthia Swan, 36, at an apartment in Woodstock.

Swan is being held in McHenry County Jail on $4 million bond.

A court-appointed psychiatrist has already determined Swan is mentally fit to stand trial.

"This evaluation has to do with the insanity defense and to his mental state, in a legal sense, at the time the alleged incident occurred," defense attorney John Ridgeway said.